MLVW sightings

[Cornholio]

The last pair I saw back in the summer were sold as scrap/salvage. They were not in horrible shape but it was made clear in the listed that they could not be registered for road use.

[Jon Skagfeld]

I'm puzzled about this apparent restriction for civilian use.

I've either driven or been an in-cab instructor for 10000s of km and not had a single brake failure, nor have I heard of any such failures, (unlike the LSVW!)

Page 9 of the Official MTO Air Brake Handbook describes air over hydraulic braking systems, which the MLVW has, so why the "illegality" of civilian use?

Pity, 'cause many farmers in this area pester me about getting one when they get released. Of course they can do what they like on their own property and that 8.2 liter fuel pincher engine would be a shame to have to scrap.

[rob love]

It may not simply be the vulnerability of the single master cylinder system, but rather that the trucks did not meet the regulations in effect at the time they were built. Besides the single cylinder, it seems to me that the noise level in the cabs was also above the standard. Back then they lowered this by installing the rubber mats, and later these were removed to slow down the corrosion. Seems to me the decibal rating was up around 89. There were other shortcomings as well. The lighting is not SAE certified, although there are modern replacements that are, like the LED version of the M series tail lamps.

I will be sorry if they do not sell them to the public. Even with the "no road" status I would have liked to buy my old MRT, along with a hiab truck. They would have been fine for going into the forest for firewood, and a good all around yard truck.

There were some Bombardier MLVWs sold from Shilo almost 2 decades ago. These were made on a late contract for the German Army in Shilo, and used as range fire trucks. Apparently the weight of the fire fighting systems was too much for the chassis to handle, so they were disposed of. I know the fellow who bought them, and as far as I know, they made it onto the road as farm trucks.

[Ed Storey]

From a historical point of view, not allowing this series of vehicles to go out for public purchase means that few will be saved by collectors. This will be a significant loss of our military automotive history to future generations.

I have heard that the M113 series, the M577s, AVGP series and the M109s that are being disposed of will also not be sold to the public.

[rob love]

I can certainly see them limiting the armour from the public as they will all be ITAR controlled. Nothing new there. The M113 lynx was not sold publicly either. But other than the M151A2, I cannot think of another wheeled 'B' vehicle that has been held away from public sale.

Technically the MLVW would fall under the controlled goods regulations as well as ITAR, and that was my understanding for why the oil coolers and starters were being removed form those sold. Controlled Goods regulations qualify a vehicle with blackout lighting as falling under their control.

[Robin Craig]

Just adds validity to leaving anything connected to an M number alone and go over to the UK or europe and fill your boots with main battle tanks and down.


My 2 cents worth

R

[Wpns 421]

I was speaking to the owner of Prefair in Montreal and he told me that he has been in contact in reference to buying all the MLVWs in quebec and Ontario. He has sent several letters but no replies have been received. I have spoken to a few people and they have told me that bases are putting MLs into a compound and units are cannabalizing them to keep the fleet going.
I was told by a Provincial policeman that in Quebec the SAAQ controls all VINs and I probably could have a registration as a artisanal truck, to have this I would have to change the engine, transmission and do a modification to the frame such as shortning or in my case removing an axle.
He then said he would sign a paper and the license office would issue a new VIN. What I did after I got the registration was my decision. So to get this let's buy a MLVW BOB it, shorten the frame, remove an axle etc.
Believe me, my head hurts from banging it on the wall but I am a masochist and will keep trying to find a loophole.
What we are seeing with the MLVW will probably be the fate all all Cdn MVs.
For those that don't know the Cdn M113 and AVGP family are in a compound somewhere and their fate is in the hands of a US company who is trying to sell them to other countries, I have called them to buy a M113. No Luck

[Scott Bentley]

Originally Posted by Robin Craig

Just adds validity to leaving anything connected to an M number alone and go over to the UK or europe and fill your boots with main battle tanks and down.


My 2 cents worth

R

I seen someone trying to sell Leopard Powerpacks a while back. Not sure how much good they will be to anyone. I was out at the LAV Range here in Gagetown today, and low and behold, saw the better part of a dozen Leopards waiting their turn to be dragged out for hard targets. They were fairly complete with the Turrets still fitted. Shame.....

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by rob love

I can certainly see them limiting the armour from the public as they will all be ITAR controlled. Nothing new there. The M113 lynx was not sold publicly either. But other than the M151A2, I cannot think of another wheeled 'B' vehicle that has been held away from public sale.
...l.

Hi Rob

Just to confirm my memory and identification below is (I think) a Lynx fully restored in the hands of a private collector here in the States. The unit is a regular participant at our Summer Rally. Owner hauls it close to 200 miles round trip on his own military flat bed unit usually with a second tracked unit as well.

So at-least one is surviving in running and in this case museum quality.

Cheers Phil

[rob love]

I'm sure that Lynx has a story behind it's escape. Apparently a bunch were scrapped at the closeout of Canada's commitment to Germany. Most had a hole cut through the side armor, which was not really up to the specs required to demil them. I believe I heard of others that were "scrapped" and managed to leave the base unscathed. While they made it onto the world market, there were questions asked, especially when satellite observation started picking out small batches of them in other parts of the world.

There is a running one in private hands out in Alberta as well. It too comes with a story of it's escape, which was not entirely done by the book on the losing unit's end.

Plenty of the lynx survive as monuments. There is 2 of them located here in Shilo, and I tarted one of a pair into UN livery back when I was in Moose Jaw. Those two grace the front yard of the armouries there.

They were a fun vehicle, kind of like an overgrown snowmobile. Compared to the old M113A1 we used at the time, a lynx had a lot of pickup.